Defense is a work in progress

Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar spent several minutes (half-hour?) after practice the other day chatting with assistants Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw.

Their talks have become as much a part of the practice routine as free throw shooting and running drills, according to Fisher. Maybe even a more crucial part as the Lakers continue to figure out their defensive lapses. Despite their 20-3 record, the Lakers struggle to maintain leads and altogether squelch late-game rallies by opponents.

"What we're really talking about right now is that we want to have a defensive concept, kind of an infrastructure of how we want to play defensively and then be able to adjust from game-to-game and team-to-team and still stay within the same concept," Fisher said.

"That's why you've seen some ups and downs; because we're doing things completely different than we've done them before."

Fisher said Saturday's talk centered on being patient and remaining confident despite the "downs."

"If we keep working at it, it will get better," he said. "We'll go through the ups and downs, but it's great to be (20-3) while you're trying to figure yourself out. Once we get a hold of this in another 20 games, I think we will be pretty good."

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